IMF chief calls on US for more cash"IMF managing director Christine Lagarde implored the United States to help back-stop debt-ridden European countries Tuesday, wading neck-deep into bubbling US political waters."

## Airline Death Spiral ##Air France ties short-haul future to cost cuts"Loss-making Air France called on Monday for increased efforts to overhaul its European passenger network and signalled the survival of its short- and medium-haul operations depended on the willingness of staff to accept 'drastic' cost cuts."

Ryanair puts weight behind saving fuel"Ryanair is reducing the size of its in-flight magazine, serving passengers less ice – and even asking cabin crew to watch their figures – as part of efforts to trim its fuel bill."

S.Africa Iranian oil imports soar in Feb"South African crude oil imports from Iran leapt in February to $364 million from zero the preceding month, customs data showed on Monday, dashing the view that Pretoria has bowed to U.S. pressure to curb commercial links with Tehran."

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##China detains 22 after Inner Mongolia protest: group"Chinese police detained 22 ethnic Mongolians after hundreds of them protested against the seizure of land in Inner Mongolia, an overseas rights group said on Tuesday, in the latest case of unrest in the vast and remote northern region."

## Got food? ##Egypt: Fuel Shortage Threatens Bread Supplies"It has been three months since a fuel shortage hit Egypt, and people's patience is wearing thin amid fears the crisis could disrupt the production of subsidized bread."

Fukushima radiation levels rebound as snow melts"Air radiation levels have risen in Namie and other areas around the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant because the spring thaw has increased exposure to contaminated soil, the science ministry said."

## China ##China's Wen says bank monopoly must be broken: state media"China's state banks make money 'too easily' and their monopoly on financial services has to be broken if cash-starved private enterprises are to get access to capital when they need it, state media cited Premier Wen Jiabao as saying on Tuesday."

## UK ##

Fuel shortage in Britain"Up to 2,700 petrol stations across Britain remain short of fuel following several days of panic buying last week, The Telegraph reported Monday."